If there was ever a time when families and children needed support, it’s now. With the pandemic being such a stressful time, many families are having to finally address issues that may have been pushed away for years or having to address new issues that have recently surfaced. The amount of people that are reaching out to therapists has skyrocketed in the last year. You are not alone in seeking therapy for your child or family. Many are realizing that it isn’t just an option, but a necessity for the healthy growth of their family and children.
Through providing a safe space and supportive environment George Khamis helps children, adolescents, and families recognize where the problems are and works with them to implement effective, measurable solutions. He works with schools, teachers, and social workers to identify systemic patterns that need to be addressed. By addressing these patterns in many different areas of his client’s life, George fosters behavioral and cognitive changes that become reinforced across all the major areas of the client’s life, such as in school, at home, at sports, or wherever else the client spends most of their time.
George has extensive experience working directly with children and adolescents on the autism spectrum, and he has worked with at-risk elementary children as a Youth Development worker in Kalamazoo Public Schools’ After School and Summer Programs. George has also worked with adolescents and adults in Evoke’s wilderness therapy program, and Hispanic families in underserved community centers in Southwest Detroit.
The issues that George helps his clients with are anxiety, depression, life transitions, self-esteem, relationship issues, communication, family conflict, conflict resolution, among others. He uses theoretical approaches that focus on an individual’s upbringing and the primary relationships early in life, such as parents, siblings, grandparents, or even teachers. George supports clients in learning how to help themselves and so they are not solely dependent on the therapist for change. He offers in-person sessions, tele-therapy sessions, and walk-and-talk therapy.
George is also certified as a Safe and Sound Protocol therapist. The Safe and Sound Protocol is a seven-day at-home music therapy intervention designed to help children, adolescents, and adults turn a chronically dysregulated nervous system into a consistently regulated nervous system. This program is a useful adjunct regular psychotherapy treatment and is useful for clients diagnosed with anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, ODD, and ASD. George is currently attending a doctorate program in Clinical Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies. He offers virtual therapy due to attending school out-of-state.
Who is your ideal client?
I work with Children (ages 3-13), Teenagers, Adults, and Couples. My ideal clients are those that have a clear goal for therapy, have an openness to engage in the therapeutic process, and are willing to put in the work outside of therapy as well. When working with children, I find the most success happens when parents are involved in therapy and are willing to make adjustments themselves.
What are your pronouns? He/Him/His
Why did you decide to become a mental health professional?
I decided to become a psychologist because I believe mental wellbeing is extremely important in our day-to-day life, and that it can often be overlooked. I became a psychologist so that I could help my clients work through the issues they are currently struggling with to achieve mental wellbeing.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
My favorite thing about my job is being able to work with the whole family unit, instead of only being able to work with the child. I also enjoy administering psychological evaluations for my clients, which provides myself and the client with a comprehensive overview of their strengths and weaknesses in cognitive and academic ability, and any skill deficits or interpersonal issues that need to be addressed.
What is your ultimate wish for every client?
My wish for every client is to achieve mental wellbeing, gain coping skills and techniques to maintain their mental wellbeing outside of therapy, and live in a safe, supportive environment with emotionally-available caretakers.
What is your favorite quote?
“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” -Carl Jung
Who is someone who inspires you?
Dr. Gabor Mate, a Canadian physician who teaches about the long-term effects of trauma and offers workshops to resolve past traumas.
What is your favorite self help book?
My favorite book is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
What modalities do you love implementing as a therapist?
In therapy I use a Person-Centered Therapy approach, along with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy techniques. I often teach my clients mindfulness or meditation techniques which can be helpful in a variety of circumstances. With children I often include a Play Therapy approach during which we utilize games, toys, sand, and art to help the child open up and feel comfortable in therapy. I also provide parent training to parents utilizing approaches like Parent Child Interaction Therapy and Family Systems Theory. With couples I utilize the Gottman Method.
(primary focus on Family Therapy)
Kalamazoo College - Bachelor in Psychology
(concentration in neuroscience)